This blog features a different packed lunch every weekday. The photos show one of the actual lunches that I pack for my kids -- and often myself -- just before it disappears into the lunchbox. I post recipes on www.delish.com when they are available. Of course, your comments and questions are welcome!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

chicken with curry, cilantro, celery and grapes, to be stuffed in mini pita pockets with red leaf lettuce

Bing Cherries

Celery Sticks

with whipped peanut butter dip

English Tea Cookies

(not pictured)

The Disposable Version

Today, one of my daughters happens to be departing on a multi-day school field trip, and one of the requirements was to bring a lunch with completely disposable packaging. No insulated lunch box!?! Oh, the horror! Here is the same lunch as above, but packed for a landfill destiny.

It's just not quite as appealing, is it?

I enclosed the peanut butter dip inside pairs of celery sticks to reduce the need for packaging.

This is a semi-disposable container from a previous lunchmeat purchase, so I felt a little better about its eventual demise. To keep the chicken salad nice and cold, I wrapped a small bag of ice in a paper towel and placed it inside the container separated by waxed paper.

This week is STAR testing at my daughters' school, and the students are encouraged to bring snacks to share. Therefore, the next few menus might feature lighter fare and/or some items may not be included in the picture of the day.

Spoon or pour batter into two greased 4” x 8” loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes, or until bread is light brown and begins to pull away from sides of pan. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir pear juice into powdered sugar in small amounts, stirring well. The glaze should be a thick liquid.

Brush glaze over bread immediately after removing loaves from oven. Let cool for 10 minutes. Remove loaves from pans and place on baking rack. Brush on remaining glaze. Cool completely before slicing.

Welcome to Lunchability!

After many years of homeschooling, my two daughters began attending a brick-and-mortar school this year. To my dismay, I was suddenly faced with the agony of PACKING LUNCHES on a daily basis. I had visions of soggy sandwiches and bruised banana halves -- eeeeew!

Confession #2: Boredom and I don't get along very well.

Oh, sure. I asked veteran school-mom friends for advice. I researched recipes on the internet. I just didn't find many ideas that were particularly inspiring. I like a classic PB&J or veggies with ranch dip as much as the next guy ... once in a while. NOT every week.

Confession #3: I can't resist a good challenge.

Now what? Succumb to bland brown-bagging, or reinvent the notion of the packable lunch? I think you can guess the answer. I found myself on a mission to banish lunchbox boredom!